Gerbera plant named &#39;UFGE 7032&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Gerbera  plant particularly distinguished by having a novel combination of medium lengths of peduncles, semi-double yellow flower color, an overall flower diameter of approximately 10.5 cm, a moderate level of resistance to powdery mildew, and demonstrated potential to produce attractive plants in large (≧20-cm in diameter) containers, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Gerbera hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘UFGE 7032’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Gerbera hybridaplant named ‘UFGE 7032’. ‘UFGE 7032’ originated from a cross made atWimauma, Fla. in 2005 between the female parent, ‘UFGE 5006’(unpatented), an unreleased breeding line selected at Wimauma, Fla. froma population of progeny of the cross ‘UFGE 39-26’ (unpatented) and ‘UFGE5-23’ (unpatented), and the male parent, ‘Sunburst Yellow’ (unpatented).‘UFGE 7032’ was selected by the inventors from the progeny of the statedparentage in summer 2007 at Wimauma, Fla. The first asexual reproductionof ‘UFGE 7032’ was accomplished when crown division was done in late2007 at Wimauma, Fla. Plants of ‘UFGE 7032’ have been asexuallypropagated by crown division and/or tissue culture for more than threegenerations. Asexually propagated plants of ‘UFGE 7032’ have remainedtrue to the original selected plant, and all characteristics of theplant have been transmitted and retained through three successiveasexual vegetative generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have not been applied for.‘UFGE 7032’ has not been made publicly available more than one yearprior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct variety of Gerbera plant is characterized by anovel combination of medium lengths of peduncles, semi-double yellowflowers, an overall flower diameter of approximately 10.5 cm, a moderatelevel of resistance to powdery mildew, and demonstrated potential toproduce attractive plants in large (≧20-cm in diameter) containers.‘UFGE 7032’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. Its phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as light intensity, temperature, and day length. Thefollowing are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics ofthis new cultivar when grown at Wimauma, Fla. under normal horticulturalpractices in greenhouse conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

1. Peduncle length of approximately 38 cm;

2. Semi-double flower type;

3. Yellow (RHS 12A) ray florets;

4. Yellow-green (RHS 145A) color discs before opening of disc florets;

5. Yellow (RHS 10A) perianth lobe of disc florets;

6. Flower head diameter of approximately 10.5 cm; and

7. Moderate resistance to powdery mildew.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Gerbera plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's form, flower head, and foliage. The colors shownare as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures. The photographs are of a plant approximately 2.5 months oldwhich was produced from one tissue culture liner and is potted in a2.7-L container. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from thecolor values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichaccurately describe the colors of the new Gerbera.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit including flowers and foliage andis taken from a side perspective view.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower head.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the typical leaf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘UFGE 7032’. The present botanical description isthat of the variety at approximately 2.5 months old on Oct. 23, 2009 at3:30 p.m. in a room under north light at Wimauma, Fla. The colors(except those in common terms) are described from R.H.S. Colour Chartpublished by The Royal Horticultural Society in London (1986 ed.), inassociation with the Flower Council of Holland.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Gerbera hybrida cv. ‘UFGE 7032’.        -   Common Name.—Gerbera.-   Parentage: Female parent: ‘UFGE 5006’ (unpatented) Male parent:    ‘Sunburst Yellow’ (unpatented)-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower head.—Type: Semi-double Diameter: Large, approx. 105            mm Color (general tonality from a distance of 3 meters):            Bright yellow (RHS 12A) Shape: Incurving funnel-shaped.        -   Involucre.—Height from point of attachment of involucre to            top of flower head: Short, approx. 16 mm Diameter: Medium,            approx. 38 mm Number of bracts: Medium, approx. 94 Color:            Green (RHS 138A) Longitudinal axis of inner rows: Straight            Anthocyanin: Absent Pubescence: Very dense.        -   Inner ray florets.—Number: Medium, approx. 72 Shape: Narrow            elliptic Longitudinal axis of outer row: Moderately            reflexing Longitudinal axis of inner rows: Straight            Longitudinal axis of ray female floret: Straight.        -   Outer ray floret.—Cross section: Straight Length: Medium,            approx. 42 mm Width: Medium, approx. 7 mm Depth of incision:            Very Shallow Color (topside): Yellow (RHS 12A) Color (bottom            side): Yellow (RHS 10B) Color distribution on inner side:            Uniform Edge of different color: Absent Striation: Absent.        -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Medium, approx. 27 mm.        -   Reproductive organs.—Style (main color of distal part):            Yellow (RHS 10B) Stigma (main color): Yellow (RHS 10B)            Anthers (main color): Yellow (RHS 12B) Color of top relative            to other parts: Lighter Longitudinal stripes: Absent            Intensity of anthocyanin coloration: Absent.        -   Pappus.—Main color: Yellow-white (RHS 158D) Color of top            relative to other parts: Same Level of top relative to            closed disc florets: Same.        -   Peduncle.—Length: Medium, approx. 38 cm Tendency to            fasciation: Slight Thickness: Medium, approx. 8 mm Strength:            Strong Pubescence: Dense Color: Yellow-green (RHS 144B)            Anthocyanin coloration: At base: Very weak (RHS 152C) At            top: Absent Involucral bracts: Absent.-   Plant:    -   -   General appearance.—Height: Approx. 39 cm, excluding any            flowers Width: Approx. 55 cm.        -   Foliage.—Leaf blade: Length: Long, approx. 24 cm Width:            Medium, approx. 15 cm Blistering: Medium Pubescence (On            upper side, midrib excluded): Medium Depth of incisions in            leaf: Basal part: Deep Central part: Deep Distal part:            Shallow Color: Upper side: Green (RHS 137A) Bottom side:            Yellow-green (RHS 147B) Glossiness on upper side: Medium            Shape of apex: Moderately acute Petiole: Petiole length:            Medium, approx. 9.5 cm Color of petiole: Yellow-green (RHS            144B) Petiole anthocyanin coloration: Medium.-   Resistance to diseases: ‘UFGE 7032’ has been observed in multiple    experiments in which it was compared with two common commercial    cultivars, ‘Pensacola’ gerbera (unpatented) and ‘Bimini’ gerbera    (unpatented), for the incidence and severity of powdery mildew,    Podosphaera (syn. Sphaerotheca) fusca (Fr.) S. Blumer. ‘UFGE 7032’    has consistently been found to have a moderate level of resistance    to powdery mildew. In one experiment (Experiment 1), conducted in    summer 2009 and fall 2009 at Wimauma, Fla., tissue culture liners of    ‘UFGE 7032’, ‘Bimini’, and ‘Pensacola’ were transplanted on into    2.7-L containers filled with commercial potting mix amended with    controlled release fertilizer at the rate of 5.28 kg·m⁻³ and trace    element fertilizer at the rate of 1.05 kg·m⁻³. Plants were grown    under a plastic tunnel within a screen house with approximately 45%    light exclusion. Fungicides were not applied throughout the    experiments to subject the plants to natural powdery mildew disease    pressures. In Experiment 1, the severity of powdery mildew on    gerbera leaves was assessed at week 8 after transplanting (Oct. 15,    2009), week 10 after transplanting (Oct. 29, 2009) and week 12 after    transplanting (Nov. 12, 2009). A randomized complete block design    was used with eight replications. The experimental unit was a single    containerized plant. ‘UFGE 7032’ showed a moderate level of    resistance to powdery mildew (Table 1). ‘UFGE 7032’ remained to be    more productive than ‘Bimini’ and ‘Pensacola’ when natural powdery    mildew disease pressure existed (Table 1). No other disease    resistance characterizations have been made.

TABLE 1 Powdery mildew severity ratings and flower counts of ‘UFGE 7032’and two commercial gerbera cultivars, ‘Bimini’ and ‘Pensacola’, grownunder natural powdery mildew pressure in Experiment 1 (Summer 2009through Fall 2009) in Wimauma, FL. PM Ratings^(Z) Cultivars Week 8 Week10 Week 12 Flower counts^(Y) Experiment 1 (Summer 2009 through Fall2009) UFGE 7032 1.4 4.0 6.1 4.6 Bimini 2.6 8.6 9.4 2.6 Pensacola 1.8 7.59.8 1.1 ^(Z)Powdery mildew severity was rated on a scale of 1 to 10 asdescribed by Hausbeck et al. (2002): 1 = no disease, 2 = trace to 10%, 3= 10% to 20%, 4 = 20 to 30%, 5 = 30% to 40%, 6 = 40% to 50%, 7 = 50% to60%, 8 = 60% to 70%, 9 = 70% to 80%, and 10 = 80% to 100% of leafsurface covered with powdery mildew. ^(Y)Total number of flowersproduced per plant over nine weeks from Sep. 25, 2009 to Nov. 20, 2009in a screen house in Wimauma, FL

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘UFGE 7032’ differs from the female parent ‘UFGE 5006’ (unpatented) byhaving yellow flowers under growing conditions in Wimauma, Fla. ‘UFGE7032’ differs from the male parent ‘Sunburst Yellow’ (unpatented) byhaving intermediate peduncles, semi-double flowers, and a moderate levelof powdery mildew resistance under growing conditions in Wimauma, Fla.In contrast, the female parent ‘UFGE 5006’ has light orange flowers, andthe male parent ‘Sunburst Yellow’ has short peduncles, single flowers,and susceptibility to powdery mildew.

Comparisons were made with the commercial gerbera variety ‘Bimini’(unpatented) and the commercial gerbera variety ‘Pensacola’(unpatented). Two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse at Wimauma,Fla. under standard greenhouse management practices to evaluate theplant performance (days to flower, flower quality, flower count, andplant quality) of ‘UFGE 7032’ for container plant production incomparison to ‘Bimini’ and ‘Pensacola’. In the first of the two plantperformance experiments (Experiment 2), tissue culture liners weretransplanted on Dec. 9, 2008 into 2.7-L containers filled withcommercial potting mix amended with controlled release fertilizer at therate of 5.28 kg·m⁻³ and trace element fertilizer at the rate of 1.05kg·m⁻³. Potted plants were grown on metal benches in a glass house andspaced 46 cm×46 cm apart. Temperatures inside the greenhouse ranged from18° C. to 33° C. Two hours of additional photoperiodic lighting wereprovided between Dec. 9, 2008 and Mar. 17, 2009. Fungicides andinsecticides were applied as needed to control powdery mildew andwestern flower thrips. Flower quality was rated on a 1 to 5 scale:1=very poor, 3=fair, some blemishes, but acceptable, and 5=excellent,bright, uniform, and no blemishes. Flower counts were recorded weeklyfrom Jan. 20, 2009 through Mar. 17, 2009. Plant quality was rated threetimes, on Jan. 20, 2009, Feb. 3, 2009, and Feb. 17, 2009, using a 1 to 5scale: 1=few leaves or long petioles, container surface visible, verypoor and unacceptable as flowering pot plants, 3=fair and marketable,and 5=excellent, full, symmetrical, attractive plants.

In the second of the two plant performance experiments (Experiment 3),tissue culture liners were transplanted on Aug. 13, 2009 into 2.7-Lplastic containers filled with commercial potting mix amended withcontrolled release fertilizer at the rate of 5.28 kg·m⁻³ and traceelement fertilizer at the rate of 1.05 kg·m⁻³. Plants were grown onmetal benches in a greenhouse with a spacing of 46 cm×46 cm. Thegreenhouse was covered with aluminum shading cloth with approximately30% light exclusion. Greenhouse temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 35°C. Two hours of additional photoperiodic lighting was provided beginningSep. 15, 2009. Fungicides and insecticides were applied as needed tocontrol powdery mildew and western flower thrips. Flower quality andplant quality were rated as above for Experiment 2, but on Sep. 25,2009, Oct. 15, 2009, and Nov. 5, 2009. The number of flowers producedper plant was recorded weekly from Sep. 25, 2009 through Nov. 20, 2009.

The experiment design for the plant performance experiments was arandomized complete block design with five replications in Experiment 2and eight replications in Experiment 3. The experimental unit was asingle containerized plant.

‘UFGE 7032’ came into flowering 22.8 to 27.6 days earlier than ‘Bimini’and ‘Pensacola’ in Experiment 2 and 4.8 to 10.5 days earlier than‘Bimini’ and ‘Pensacola’ in Experiment 3 (Table 2). Flower qualityratings of ‘UFGE 7032’ were 4.8, similar to that of ‘Bimini’ (5.0 to4.8), and higher than that of ‘Pensacola’ (4.1 to 4.3) (Table 2). Inboth Experiment 2 and Experiment 3, ‘INGE 7032’ produced more flowers(206% to 163% more than ‘Bimini’ and 443% to 360% more than ‘Pensacola’)(Table 2). The plant quality rating of ‘UFGE 7032’ was 3.9 in Experiment2 and 4.8 in Experiment 3, higher than that of the controls (Table 2).

TABLE 2 Plant performance of ‘UFGE 7032’ and two commercial cultivars,‘Bimini’ and ‘Pensacola’ grown in Experiment 2 (Winter 2008 throughSpring 2009) and Experiment 3 (Summer 2009 through Fall 2009) inWimauma, Florida. Days to 1st open Flower Flower counts^(Z) PlantCultivars flowers (no.) quality^(Z) (no.) quality^(Y) Experiment 2 (Dec.9, 2008 to Mar. 17, 2009) UFGE 7032 41.2 4.8 6.2 3.9 Bimini 64.0 5.0 3.03.1 Pensacola 68.8 4.1 1.4 3.3 Experiment 3 (Aug. 13, 2009 to Nov. 20,2009) UFGE 7032 45.3 4.8 9.0 4.8 Bimini 50.1 4.8 5.5 3.2 Pensacola 55.84.3 2.5 3.3 ^(Z)Flower count data were collected over nine weeks fromJan. 20, 2009 to Mar. 17, 2009 in Experiment 2 and another nine weeksfrom Sep. 25, 2009 to Nov. 20, 2009 in Experiment 3. Each valuerepresents the mean of five (Experiment 2) or eight (Experiment 3)replicates. ^(Y)The plant quality rating value in Experiment 2 was themean of five replicates over three times (Jan. 20, Feb. 3, and Feb. 17,2009), and the plant quality rating value in Experiment 3 was the meanof eight replicates over three times (Sep. 25, Oct. 15, and Nov. 5,2009).

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

‘UFGE 7032’ is noted for its very sturdy flower.

Literature Cited

Hausbeck, M. K., W. R. Quackenbush, and S. D. Linderman. 2002.Evaluation of cultivars of African daisy for resistance to powderymildew, 2002. B&C Tests 18:00004.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gerbera plant named ‘UFGE 7032’, asillustrated and described herein.